Is one man’s attempt to chronicle the reality and the challenge presented to anyone unlucky enough to be struck down by Guillain-Barre Syndrome.

"a remarkable book which vividly portrays the tragedy, the tumult and the tortuous route back from such a catastrophic illness... with lashings of black humour"Jill Parsons - The Daily Mail

It is not intended to provide technical solutions or an exhaustive guide to the recovery process, but it does convey a very clear understanding of what it feels like to be on the inside of the illness.

With humour and defiance Sheppard chronicles his personal journey and by anecdote and observation builds a patchwork, in vivid colour, of the view from the interior.

The physical debility he endured served only to sharpen his sense of the absurd. His easy writing style is deceptive as he pours metaphorical scorn on the worst that GBS could throw at him and laughs right back in defiance.

If “The diving bell and the butterfly” made you weep then this will make you laugh and cry in equal measure.

It’s a compelling read which tugs at the heart strings and gladdens the soul. An alchemy of words and experience, sharply observed.

Sheppard's eldest son Sam has collaborated with the acclaimed Liam Scott-Smith, who has recorded a track called 'Heart', to summarise his view of what you need to be full of to survive this illness. You can download a copy by clicking here.

The cover of the book was designed by Sheppard's youngest son Charlie and is entitled "Faces of Confinement"... click here to see the full picture.